Before opening their doors in the Cow Hollow neighborhood of San Francisco, Chris spent 15 years in wine and spirits sales in the Bay Area, working mostly with wineries in California, Oregon or Washington. He met a number of winemakers and proprietors who shared his passion for wine and for being good stewards of the land. These relationships reinforced Chris’ belief that wines from the West Coast are just as good, if not better, than wines from anywhere else in the world.
Back at home in San Francisco, Chris noticed the lack of support for West Coast wineries on many wine lists. Despite the high quality wines produced in the area, most local places were (and still are) pouring imported wines. So, along with wife Lindsey, he decided to do something about it.
Four years, and four Wine Spectator 'Award of Excellence' honors later, West Coast Wine • Cheese continues to showcase regional wines by serving up premium experiences in a relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere, now in two locations; their original San Francisco spot & the new lounge in Mill Valley.
Buy tickets here to the Champagne Billecart-Salmon dinner on Saturday, December 8th at 6pm at Barndiva in Healdsburg.
In this episode we mention...
West Coast Wine + Cheese
David Bruce Winery
Ian Brand
Martha Stoumen
Wine Spectator Top 100 2018
Bedrock The Bedrock Heritage Sonoma Valley
Booker Oublié Paso Robles 2014
Zotovich Vineyards
Follow Chris & West Coast Wine + Cheese on Instagram @westcoastwinesf and at westcoastsf.com
Remi directs the winemaking process from vineyard to bottle and is responsible for top quality, small-lot winemaking expressive of appellation and vineyard site. In addition, she oversees the sale of all wines through the hospitality experience and the wine club programs direct to consumer, and throughout the domestic and international markets.
Learn more about Remi with the show notes here.
West + Wilder is redefining the look and taste of canned wine and setting a new benchmark for quality within a growing category. Dedicated to sustainability and taste, this small wine company with big world values recently added a Sparkling White and a Sparkling Rosé to their portfolio of West Coast inspired wines.
With varied backgrounds in marketing and the wine industry, co-founders Matt and Kenny launched West + Wilder in May 2018 with the vision of making wine more accessible, approachable and fun. An opportunity for them to support causes they value, like protecting our National Parks, and making customers smile, they are excited about what they do and how they can share it. For them, West + Wilder is a celebration of the dreamers, the seekers and the thinkers. It’s for those who appreciate good things in life with care, humor, mindfulness and beauty. They scoured the West Coast to discover and uncover the best of each state's wine regions, from Washington, Oregon, and California. Being labeled non-vintage with a broad appellation allows them to focus, without restriction, on quality while offering great value. And cans deliver immediate gratification; these wines are made to be enjoyed at release. No guessing.
Generating a buzz (and selling out of the Sparkling Rosé) at Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco this year, cans of West + Wilder are readily available at hotspots up and down the Cali coast, such as the San Francisco’s Ritz Carlton, the Pebble Beach Resort, Yosemite’s Rush Creek Lodge, and the famous Hollywood Bowl. The wines can also be found in Oklahoma, Minnesota and as far East as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.
They use aluminum cans—one of the world's most recycled materials and the lightest way to package wine. It's one of the ways they’ve committed to sustainability. They’re also dedicated to giving back and have reinforced their commitment by partnering with 1% for the Planet. Their 1% goes to support the preservation of wild spaces for us all to enjoy—now and tomorrow. The illustrations that adorn the cans celebrate these places and the native plants that live there.
A 750mL bottle of great wine that happens to come in three 8.4oz cans, designed to pay homage to the special places where the wine is sourced from - an ode to the spirit of the West, West + Wilder’s curated line-up includes a White Wine, a Rosé and now a Sparkling White and a Sparkling Rosé.
Not afraid of the unconventional, the brand breaks the perception of the can and makes good wine choices easy and rewarding; both for those who appreciate an active and outdoor lifestyle as well as those who enjoy high-quality, well made wines. West + Wilder drinks well anywhere and anytime.
West + Wilder’s line of products are available at retail wine and liquor stores, markets, and restaurants. For more information and a full list of retailers visit West + Wilder’s website (https://westandwilder.com/) and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
In this episode we mention...
West + Wilder
Medlock Ames
Three Sticks
Wine Lands at Outside Lands
Wines we drank…
Rosé
White Blend
Sparkling Rosé
Sparkling White
FOLLOW WEST + WILDER ON INSTAGRAM